oikos Newsletter
January '15

be informed - get involved - make a difference

Dear Reader,

Happy new year from the oikos community!
The first newsletter of 2015 comes with a lot of firsts and new's. While some of you have already decided on the new year's resolutions, let us help the rest in making up their minds and add one more to the list of existing resolutions. This year, resolve to consume less of one thing. It isn't about eating less sweets. Take a stand for the environment and use less flying and more trains, less cars and more trams, less meat and more veggies, less plastic and more cloth; less is more.
Apart from new year resolutions, the new year also brings along an empty diary! Block your dates with everything oikos has to offer this year, right from joining the Spring Meeting, organizing the FutureLab, attending the Winter School, 3o seconds with Eike  Haas and so much more. 
Happy bookmarking! 
 

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Help us Organize the FutureLab 2015

Are you interested in working in a multi-cultural team on the biggest event in the oikos calendar? Are you a motivated individual ready to dedicate your time and attention to organizing the oikos FutureLab 2015? Then we are looking for you! Please send an email to futurelab@oikos-international.org, for more information.

 

Last chance to apply - oikos Spring Meeting 2015 in London

Join us at the London School of Economics between the 26th and 29th of March 2015 to learn more about the relationship between sustainability and finance. With trips to the Siemens Crystal, talks on financial stability from Bernard Lietaer, Ben Dyson, the Tyndall Centre and talks on financing sustainability from Sean Kidney, UNEP and more. Invigorating and insightful discussions will pepper the long weekend. Applications close on January 13th!

oikos Model WTO 2015

In April 2015 it will be time for the oikos #modelWTO again!

Applications are open!
Click 'read more' to apply and experience a memorable WTO week in Switzerland.




Executive Board 2015/2016 and Presidential Elections

Are you passionate about sustainability and working with students across the world? Why not apply for the oikos Executive Board or the oikos Presidency to really make a difference? Elections will be held at the First Legislative Meeting of 2015 in London. Interested in applying? Click 'read more' for the terms and conditions. Deadline to apply is February 28th.

 

oikos Learning Circles
  

Interested in sustainable finance, management education, economics, entrepreneurship, supply chain/fashion or energy? Then join the Learning Circle with the topic of your interest and gain experience, knowledge and establish networks! We currently have six Learning Circles: Economics, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Fashion, Finance and Management Education. If you wish to initiate a Learning Circle with an alternative topic, do not hesitate to contact us.

 

oikos Alumni

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Evening in London

Mark your calender. Spread the word. The oikos Alumni meeting in London is just around the corner. On Friday, 16th of January at the Thiwanya Thai Restaurant followed by drinks at the Ship Tavern next door. 


LinkedIn for Alumni
Are you an alumna/alumnus? Keep in touch via Linkedin.
 



 

oikos Academic

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oikos Finance Academy

oikos and Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) invite applications to the fifth oikos PRI Young Scholars Finance Academy in collaboration with The Henley Centre for Governance, Accountability and Responsible Investment (GARI). The academy will take place from May 31 to June 4, 2015, in Reading, United Kingdom. Deadline of application is on January 31, 2015. More info here.

oikos PhD Fellowship on "Finance and Sustainability" 

oikos and the University of Zurich are inviting applications from qualified candidates for an oikos PhD Fellowship at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, starting in September 2015.  The fellowship will provide a grant for a PhD focused on "Finance and Sustainability" at the University of Zurich's Department of Banking and Finance. The application deadline is March 31, 2015.

 

 

30 seconds with...

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Eike Haas, Former oikos Executive Board Member and Winner of the University Meets Microfinance (UMM) Master Thesis Award 2014
 

Dear oikees!

In our world, 2.5 billion adults do not have a bank account. Financial diaries reveal that these unbanked accumulate small, frequent lump sums and do numerous transactions to bridge periods of irregular income in their households. However, the unbanked fall back on informal devices. This implies storing cash at home and transacting via traveling relatives. The main reason that prevents a commercial bank from serving the unbanked is high proportional costs from installing and operating traditional distribution channels for lump sum savings and transactions accounts.

These and similar stories can be read in the best-seller Poor Economics and publications from The World Bank. I recently wrote a paper about alternative distribution channels, such as mobile banking and agent banking. Literature also calls them branchless banking. A comprehensive literature review and cases from Mexico, Columbia, and Brazil serve as basis for my paper. Branchless banking channels may decrease costs down to 5 percent of traditional channel costs. Here is a summary of further key findings: (link).

I was lucky to receive the University Meets Microfinance (UMM) Master Thesis Award 2014 for this research:
http://www.universitymeetsmicrofinance.eu/awards.html. A selection committee of academics and practitioners reviewed the final papers of graduates from universities in the European Union that devoted their research to financial inclusion. The first place is endowed with €500, plus publication of my research in the peer-reviewed journal Savings and Development. The award ceremony was recorded and can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjHkJEfP6pg.

Looking at more than 1 billion potential customers, of which 160 million in Africa’s largest economy – Nigeria, financial inclusion is a hot topic for commercial banks that operate Sub-Saharan Africa. Just as fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) are for retailers. Therefore, I joined the Africa practices of Bain & Company, a management consulting company. My intention is to work at the frontiers of inclusive business. These allow significant social impact in combination with entrepreneurial profits.

Closing this article, I would like to encourage each and everyone of you to engage in oikos’ international bodies such as the EB and cross-chapter project teams. Apart from the impact you may yield with your engagement and the friendships you may develop with like-minded internationals as you are, via conference calls and face-à-face discussions in cross-cultural working groups you will prepare yourself for a career in an international working environment. Take these chances!